Efrosyni Proestou was also called “The Lady of Lapithos”, because of her daring decision to hide (and thus save) twelve Greek Cypriot soldiers. They found a shelter close to her house in Lapithos village for a whole month, during and after the Turkish invasion. Proestou was imprisoned and risked the death penalty for her action.

In the Greek traditional family and society, calling a woman “Kyrá” (lady) is a title of honor which insinuates moral value and implies deeds complying with the patriarchal perception of women’s identities.

The initiative for the memorial was taken by the Lapithos Municipality, the “Lapithos” Refugee Association and the twelve soldiers. The latter covered the total cost. Lapithos is in the occupied part of Cyprus, but still elects its authorities in the Greek Cypriot, southern part, as all occupied municipalities and communities do. The unveiling of the memorial took place on September 25th 2002.